Travel report #12
Brazil - Mathinos and Iguazu
Friday February 23, 2001
After a quick bath in the waves, we got on a bus to Curitiba to meet Andreas and Anne Marie. After many hours of waiting, they finally arrived. Their flight had been delayed due to thunderstorms, then heavy traffic out of Sao Paulo. Friday of Carnaval weekend not the easiest to travel on!! They arrived late so we stayed the night in Curitiba.
Saturday February 24, 2001
Impossible to get bus tickets back to Mathinos, everybody was going there. Chaos at the bus station!! We heard that Mathinos normally has about 17000 inhabitants, during Carnaval weekend it is close to 70000 people there!!
But as we now are four, a taxi was not out of reach. After a quick stroll around Curitiba we found a taxi for the good hours drive. Arrived in Mathinos in the afternoon and introduced Andreas and Anne Marie to our house and private zoo!! Andreas is a friend of B from high school, Anne Marie a friend of Andreas.
We had a little "Christmas eve" with the stuff Andreas brought from home :-)
The city very different from 24 hours back when we left. The streets full of people and loud music all over the place! We had a quick stroll along the beach, but neither of us had much energy for party...
Sunday February 25, 2001
All four of us enjoyed life at the beach. Lots of people all over the place. Amazing! We prepared a really good dinner and some drinks, but again not much energy for partying... But the streets and the Brazilians were full of life. Trucks with music and dancers made a promenade along the beach!
Monday February 26, 2001
Excursion day - destination Ilha do Mel. After some struggle to get there, we finally arrived to a fantastic island outside our city. An island similar to PhiPhi in Thailand, two parts connected with a beach the crosses the island. Fantastic place. We could finally swim without big waves!
On the boat we met a Brazilian couple, Jaques and Carolina from Blumenao. They were really nice and joined us for the day. We learned a lot about Brazil and had a good "local" guide. We walked to a lighthouse that gave a spectacular view of the island and the sun set.
Struggle also to get back, Jaques and Carolina gave us a ride, then we got on a packed bus with young, Brazilian party people! The road blocked by all the traffic and we had to walk the last couple kilometers back home...
Another night with parties in the streets, but we were all worn out by the days excursion :-)
Tuesday February 27, 2001
Travel day. Took the bus to Paranagua to get the train to Curitiba. A fantastic train ride! Spectacular views of the mountains and the area. High bridges, canyons, waterfall and lots of funny trees and plants. Really good!!
Arrived in Curitiba in the evening, got on the night bus towards Iguazu.
Wednesday February 28, 2001
Arrived early in the morning. Andreas and Anne Marie headed towards the Brazil side of the falls (the part we had already seen) and the bird park. We used the day to relax and sort out practical stuff in the city. Had BBQ for dinner at the same restaurant as the last time we were here!
Thursday March 1, 2001
A&AM wanted to see Paraguay, so they visited Ciudad del Este while we headed for the Argentine side of the waterfalls. The same falls, but this time a closer look. Unfortunately too much water (!) so that we could not see it all. But it was fantastic anyway, got to walk over and under and almost into the falls!
